Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said there should be a national minimum wage rate for domestic workers.
(ROBINSON NIÑAL JR. / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a press briefing on Thursday, the Labor chief believes a P6,000 national minimum wage for domestic workers is a reasonable amount.
"The P6,000 is just a proposal. I think that amount is reasonable," he said.
"If you cannot afford that, then do the work yourself. Don't hire a housemate for a meager amount of P2,000 to P3,000. That's too low," added Bello.
The Labor chief prefers a uniform floor wage rate for all domestic workers instead of the current regional setting.
"I prefer that it be the same. Regardless if they are in Isabela or Mindanao, the pay of household service workers should be the same," said Bello.
He added that a P6,000 national minimum wage will help domestic workers send their children to school.
The minimum wage of household workers is dependent on the rate set by the Regional Tripartite and Productivity Wage Boards (RTPWBs) as provided by the Kasambahay Law.
At present, the National Capital Region has the highest minimum wage rate at P5,000.